The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-12-22
SONORA BELLoNI

scttfN, Dnht let tbe bIA aoAn'
The autumn sahse, wss closing 10 The
vest; the noise Of The little brook sounded
through the woods which we're iss, ios'us
their las, leaves .aad the little procession
Of covs came mediis,ivvly dosn the rock.
pasture slopes. stopping here snd there
10 dec.pi,s,e some especially ,oothsoms
sid Hower, or 10 MUNICH mouthiui ol
grass that Vas froshcr than the ordinary.
And behind them walked tall, slender
girl wearing . brown stun dress, aud
sunbonnei OF brown calico.
"l'ye brough, the cows home, Mrs.
Dodd,' said she meuiy, asasrinkled
face peeped ont OF the windos "shsll
milk Iowi jas, hand me the paiis,
please. know where TO fad the three
legged stool I"
"But. child. said the psrplered Mrs,
Dodd. s'you rant milk y
Are you sure Of that 7" asked the tall
girl, who, now that the sunbounet bad
fallen of. revealed a rich olive complexion.
large. laughing eyes, aud hair darker than
the proyerbisl ravens wing "Bnt you
see never told you how used to milk
my little lunch pail full out 10 the pas
torres when | went nuttiug 10 Octobrr "
La /" said Mrs Dodd,
Il have more accomplishments than
you aware Of. added the girl,
well. nyway. I'm glad you're safe
home, Miss Mary. said Mrs Dodd, Its
sort Of Wild place mp 10 the bill pasture,
aud spot,ie is ugly with her horos some
times.
"Spottie and are the best friends in
world" said Mary Bell. lightly stroking
the smooth sides OF the horned animal in
question, rs she walked along tosard the
bainyard, with the milk pals in her hand.
Make yourself easy, Mrs. Dodd, ! will
fodder the cattle and see that the barn is
safely locked up for the night.
I'm dreadful obleeged t'ye, Miss Mary,
dunno what Id ha' dono ef 'twsn't for
you, 10 this ere tight spot
80 that's your boarder, is it ?" said
Mrs. Ma,tison, who bad dropped in to
borrow yeast cake for the morrow's bak.
ing. "Goiog to stay long r.
about a month" said Mrs. Dodd.
"She Is powerful fond Of the country
You'd ousht to see her ride old Dobbin to
water And she lives out OF doors like
gypsy. from mornin' till night.
"Nice lookin' enough" said Mrs. Mat
tison.
So So" said the widow --"for them as
likes dark completed folks. My Phoebe
was fair az lily, with blue eyes and skin
that freckled il she so much as put her
nose out into the sunshine. But Miss
Bell has been very good to me since Moses
ran of after the travelling circus and my
knee got bad with rheumatic. She takes
hold as handy as possible about the house.
offered TO pay her wages. but she laugh.
cd right out at the idea. i will take J our
six dollars month, Mrs. Dodd, says she,
when I'm able to pay you for all the kind
,sre you've took OF me since came to
Scramble farm Not but what she's paid
,er board as punctusl as clock" added
Mrs. Dodd. "But there was spell along
shen she was q little drsopin and hadn't
much appetite, and billed up some herb |
ca, and sort OF cossetted her with nice
title home made messes, until she chirk-
ID up; and she hain't forgot it, you see.'
"Sbop- girl s'pose ?" said Mrs. Matti
on. "These ere city folks gets sort OF
,yllsh way with 'em. She walks like
Iueep, though she hasn't got nothin but
billing -delaine and csliker sunbonnet.
mo, she ain't saleslady," said Mrs
)odd, whose "Phmbe" was in that bust
s,s. and who never allow ed the term
'shop-gIrl" to pass uncorrected 10 ber
"She lie a singist.'
Musical. eh ?" said Mrs. Mattison,
,ricking up her ears. I'm church
hoir Z"
81 guess likely, said Mrs. Dodd. lifting
be lid Of the stew pan to see II the dried
caches were in proper condition Tor
ishing up. "But dunno; Mary Bell
int one that talks much. / sort O reck
q, though, that she sings at concerts aud
lays the pianny at parties for so much
light My Phoebe says there's folks as
,akes it a reg'lar business in the city. "
"You don't sayl" cried Mrs. Mattison.
"Yes, a reg'lar business My Phnbe,
be used TO be great hand on the accor-
con, but"
Yes, | know, said Mrs Msttison, who
I'd many time listened to the recital OF
Ny Phmbe's" varied accomplishments, |
I'd knew them all by heart "But II she ,
ngs, Mrs. Dodd, guess the church ,
,lks would be glad TO get her to sing at /
N concert on Monday week +" .
rs it for the meetin' house carpet ?" \
ked Mrs. Dodd. adding little sugar to
10 dried peaches {
Not exactly, said Mrs. Ma.tisou. Its /
IL Hors,io as has got 1t up. It's TO
Use money for the choir to 80 TO New d
ork 10 December and bear the Signors '
elloni sing in opera Horstio. he's a
resdful musical, aud he says any oue as
lsn't heard Signora Belloni sing aiat mp /
the times So the choir they all mean 3
40. II IT'S possible thing TO rake aud
rape money enough together, The op I
. tickets are s5 apiece.
"Yon don't tell me so r exclaimed Mrs,
odd. spiiling teaspoontul oi Oolong
: 10 her surprise. declare, that's up $
a down sinful r |
'.Fiye dollars apiece, impressiyely re q